Digitally Weary Users Switch to Dumb Phones

In January, British actor Eddie Redmayne made headlines around the world as he became the latest in a growing band of smartphone refuseniks.

“It was a reaction against being glued permanently to my iPhone during waking hours,” he explained, turning instead to an old-fashioned “dumb phone” handset that could only make and take calls.

I have a solution: Buy an old iPhone like an iPhone 4s. Disable 3G. Put every app — except the Phone and Contacts app — into a folder. Get a SIM card that gives you only voice. This way you can unglue yourself from your iPhone without having to buy an ugly dumbphone. Plus you’ll be saving a bunch of money since you won’t be paying for data, which is the most expensive part of your cellular phone bill.